Packaging apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for packaging hosiery in an automatic operation that sequentially folds the hosiery about an insert board, places the folded hosiery on an L-board, bags the L-board mounted hosiery, and seals the bags, with the hosiery advancing in a continuous lengthwise direction to and through the various operating stations. Hosiery is initially laid out lengthwise at a folding station at which the hosiery is partially folded automatically, with folding being completed as the hosiery advances lengthwise to a preliminary packaging station at which the folded hosiery advances onto an L-board and against the upstanding end flap thereof. The L-board mounted hosiery is advanced to a bagging station at which it is inserted lengthwise into a bag that is gripped to hold it stationary during hosiery insertion and is then ungripped to allow the bagged hosiery to advance to a bag closing station at which it advances against a stop that causes the hosiery to fully seat in the bag and positions the bag properly for sealing. After the bag is sealed it is turned over lengthwise by oscillation of a turning plate on which the bagged hosiery is received at the bag closing station, from which the bagged hosiery is removed after turning.

Lawing et al.

[451 .iuly 3,1973

[ PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD [75] Inventors: Burmah D. Lawing,Charlotte; Carol Dean Rankin, Lowell, both of NC.

[73] Assignee: Speizman Industries, Inc., Charlotte,

[22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 139,165

[52] U.S. Cl. 53/21 FW, 53/117 {51] Int. Cl B65b 63/04 [58] Field ofSearch 53/21 R, 21 FW, 116, 53/117 56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,448,557 6/1969 Swaithes 53/117 3,514,0l9 5/1970 Glaze et al53/21 FW Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Att0rneyChanning L. Richards,Dalbert U. Shefte, Francis M. Pinckney and Richards and Shefte [57]ABSTRACT An apparatus and method for packaging hosiery in an automaticoperation that sequentially folds the hosiery about an insert board,places the folded hosiery on an L-board, bags the L-board mountedhosiery, and seals the bags, with the hosiery advancing in a continuouslengthwise direction to and through the various operating stations.Hosiery is initially laid out lengthwise at a folding station at whichthe hosiery is partially folded automatically, with folding beingcompleted as the hosiery advances lengthwise to a preliminary packagingstation at which the folded hosiery advances onto an L-board and againstthe upstanding end flap thereof. The L-board mounted hosiery is advancedto a bagging station at which it is inserted lengthwise into a bag thatis gripped to hold it stationary during hosiery insertion and is thenungripped to allow the bagged hosiery to advance to a bag closingstation at which it advances against a stop that causes the hosiery tofully seat in the bag and positions the bag properly for sealing. Afterthe bag is sealed it is turned over lengthwise by oscillation of aturning plate on which the bagged hosiery is received at the bag closingstation, from which the bagged hosiery is removed after turning.

30 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENlEflJuLa m sum 1 or 9 INVENTORSBURMAH D. LAWING CAROL D. RANKIN RICHARDS 8: SHEFTE ATTORNEYSPATENIEDJUL 3 I975 smears G mm m ml V ND H A M R U B CAROL D. RANKINRICHARDS 8| SHEFTE ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUU I973 3.742.676

sum u or 9 INVENTORS BURMAH D. LAWING CAROL D. RANKIN RICHARDS 8| SHEFTEA 7' TORNEKS PATENIEDJUU Ian 3.742.676

SHEEI 5 0f 9 INVENTO/PS BURMAH D. LAWING CAROL D. RANKIN RICHARDS 8|SHEFTE ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUL3 I975 INVENTORS BURMAH D. LAWING CAROL D.RANKIN RICHARDS a SQHEFTE ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDJUL3 I915 3.742.876

SHEEI 8 0f 9 [NI/EN TOPS a; BURMAH D. LAWING K v CAROL o. RANKIN I H H)RICHARDS 8 SH E Ill/0H 5 PATENTED JUL3 I973 3 742,676

INVENTORS BURMAH D. LAWING CAROL D. RANKIN RICHARDS 8| SHEFTE ATTORNEYSPACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to an apparatus and method for packaging elongatedflaccid articles, such as hosiery, and more particularly to such anapparatus and method that automatically folds and packages hosiery whilethe hosiery is advanced in a continuous lengthwise direction through thevarious folding and packaging operations.

Prior art attempts to develop an apparatus for automatically folding andpackaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, have resulted incomplicated and expensive machines that require complicated mechanismsfor accomplishing their various operations, especially the foldingoperation, and require complex handling means to transport the articlesform one operation to another and to advance the articles through eachoperation. Examples of such prior art machines are disclosed in Brincket al. U. S. Pat. No. 3,290,855, issued Dec. 18, 1966, Korch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,930, issued Mar. 28, 1967, Glaze et a]. U. S. Pat. No.3,514,019, issued May 26, 1970, and Stossel et al. U. S. Pat. No.3,516,582, issued June 23. 1970.

In contrast, the present invention provides an apparatus and method thatutilizes a relatively simple and less expensive combination ofmechanisms, especially in accomplishing folding with a simplearrangement of folding members and a minimum handling of articles. Inthe preferred embodiment only one movable folding member is required andit operates in a simple one stroke reciprocation. Furthermore, thevarious mechanisms are arranged in an aligned lengthwise sequence forsimple advancement of the articles to and through the various operationsin a continuous lengthwise direction with a resulting minimum handlingand a simplified performance of the various packaging functions.

In addition to a simplified folding operation, the present inventionprovides a simple preliminary packaging operation wherein a packagecomponent is placed in line with the advancing articles for advancementof the articles thereon, a bagging operation wherein bags are opened forinsertion of the lengthwise advancing articles while the bags aregripped to hold them stationary during article insertion and areungripped to allow the bagged articles to advance, and a bag closingoperation wherein the bags advance lengthwise against a stop to seat thearticles fully in the bag and are turned over lengthwise after closing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present inventionprovides an apparatus and method for packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, in'which articles laid out at a foldingstation are folded lengthwise thereat and advanced in a continuouslengthwise direction from the folding station through a preliminarypackaging station, a bagging station and a bag closing station. At thepreliminary packaging station the folded articles are advancedlengthwise onto a package component; at the bagging station thepreliminarily packaged articles are inserted lengthwise into bags;"andat the bag closing station the bags containing the articles are closedto complete packaging. Finally, the packaged articles are removed fromthe bag closing station.

The present invention also provides a unique apparatus and method forfolding elongated flaccid articles,

such as hosiery, in which articles are laid out on a folding stationplatform and are partially folded lengthwise, and the partially foldedarticles are advanced lengthwise while lengthwise folding of thearticles is completed. In the preferred embodiment, the articles arelaid out with central portions on the folding station platform, with oneend of the articles on a movable horizontal folding plate member abovethe platform and spaced lengthwise from the central article portionswith intermediate article portions therebetween, and with the other endof said articles on a stationary horizontal folding plate member abovethe platform. Means operates to place an insert board on the centralarticle portions, and then folding member moving means operates to movethe movable folding plate member horizontally over the insert board,thereby folding the intermediate article portions onto the insert boardwith the one end of the articles remaining on the movable folding platemember. The partially folded articles are then advanced lengthwise inthe direction of movement of the movable folding plate member and underthe stationary folding plate member, causing the one end of the articlesto slide from the movable folding plate member onto the previouslyfolded intermediate article portions and the other end of the articlesto slide from the stationary folding plate member onto the now foldedone end, thereby completing folding of the articles during lengthwiseadvance thereof.

Further, the present invention provides a unique apparatus and methodfor bagging articles, such as hosiery, in which the bag ends that arefacing advancing articles are opened at a bagging station before thearticles are advanced thereinto, the opposite edges of the opened bagsare gripped to hold the bags stationary while the articles are beinginserted and are ungripped to allow the bagged articles to advance. Inthe preferred embodiment the bags are opened by a bag opening finger engageable with the openable ends of the bags and movable thereinto toopen the bags. This bag opening finger is flexible and is inclined inthe direction of article advance and toward the bags to allow articlesto advance thereunder as they are inserted in the bags. A pusher plateis disposed for advance of articles thereto over the pusher componentand is reciprocable to insert articles thereon into the bags, with a lipprojecting from the pusher component over the articles to retain thearticles in engagement with the pusher component. The gripping andungripping of the bags is accomplished by a pair of oppositely movablearms adjacent opposite edges of the bags and movable into the bags topress against a pair of upstanding stationary arms for gripping of thebag edges therebetween during article insertion, with the grippingpressure being relieved after insertion of articles in the bags to allowthetions. The preferred preliminary packaging includes placing packagecomponents in line withthe advancing articles, holding the packagecomponents in place by suction means during advance of articles thereon,pivoting end flap folding elements upwardly from below the packagecomponent to fold upwardly end flaps against which the articles advanceand returning the folding element to allow package components to passthereover, and advancing the articles to the package components over theinclined surface of a projecting guide member that raises the articlesfor conveyance onto the package component, the projecting guide memberalso preventing movement of the package components during end flapfolding thereof. The preferred bag closing operation includes aninclined surface down which bagged articles slide in advancing to atransverse stop that stops the bagged articles to seat the articlesfully in the bags and position the bags for folding of trailing closureflaps by pivoting of a flap closing plate in the path of articleadvance, which flap folding plate holds the flaps folded while sealingmeans move downwardly onto the flaps to seal the flaps to the bags,after which the closed bags are turned over lengthwise by oscillation ofa turning plate disposed on the inclined surface for receipt of baggedarticles positioned thereon by the transverse stop prior to closing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective viewofa machine for automatically packaging panty-hose, stockings, orsimilar articles, according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of the machine with the side panelsremoved;

FIG. 3 is a lengthwise vertical section through the folding andpreliminary packaging stations of the machine;

FIG, 4 is a perspective view of the movable folding plate and operatingelements therefor at the folding station;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the L-board folding plate and operatingelements therefor at the preliminary packaging station;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pusher plate, bag gripping arms, andoperating elements therefor at the bagging station;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag opening finger and operatingelements therefor, and the gripping arms, at the bagging station;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bag closing station;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bag end flap closing plate andoperating elements therefor at the bag closing station;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sealing bar and operating elementsthereof at the bag closing station;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bag turning plate and operatingelements therefor at the bag closing station;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the microswitch controls and cams of themachine; and

FIGS. 13-20 are schematic drawings showing in sequence the variousoperations performed by the machine as a pair of panty-hose progressesthrough the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodimentillustrated inthe accompanying drawings, the apparatus of the presentinvention is shown in the form of a machine for automatically foldingand packaging ladies panty-hose, tights,

F, with the stations arranged in an aligned lengthwise sequence foradvance of hosiery articles H in a continuous lengthwise directionthrough the machine.

At the folding station A, hosiery articles, such as ladies panty-hose H,are laid out lengthwise in pairs, and insert boards I are placedindividually on the laid out panty-hose H. The panty-hose are thenpartially folded onto the insert board I, with folding being completedas the panty-hose H are advanced lengthwise to the preliminary packagingstation B.

At the preliminary packaging station B, generally flat packagecomponents, such as L-boar ds L, are placed individually in line withthe advancing panty-hose H, with transverse end flaps K at the ends ofthe L-boards L that are leading with respect to the direction ofpanty-hose advance being folded upwardly into an upstanding disposition,for advance of the parity-hose H, onto the L-boards L and against theend flaps K.

At the bagging station C, the preliminarily packaged panty-hose H areinserted in their lengthwise direction of advance into bags M that haveopen ends 0 facing the advancing panty-hose H. The bags M are gripped tohold them stationary during panty-hose insertion and are ungripped wheninsertion has been completed to allow the bagged panty-hose H to advanceto the bag closing station D.

At the bag closing station D, the bagged panty-hose H are stoppedabruptly to cause the panty-hose H to seat fully in the bags M and toposition the bags M properly for sealing. The bags M have trailingclosure flaps N extending from the open bag ends 0, which flaps N arefolded over onto the bags M and sealed thereto to close the bag ends 0.The bagged panty-hose H are then turned over lengthwise for properpositioning for the application of labels at the labelling station E asthe bagged articles advance lengthwise therethrough to the dischargestation F, at which the packaged panty-hose H are discharged intocontainers or onto conveyors for whatever further handling is desired.

The panty-hose H are advanced in a continuous lengthwise directionthrough the aligned lengthwise sequence of stations by means, in theform of a first section 21 of a pin and chain conveyor 22, for conveyingfolded panty-hose H from the folding station A to the preliminarypackaging station B, means, in the form of a second section 23 of theaforementioned pin and chain conveyor 22, for conveying panty-hose Hthrough the preliminary packaging station B and preliminarily packagedpanty-hose therefrom to the bagging station C, means, in the form of apusher plate 85, for inserting the panty-hose H into bags M and therebyadvance the panty-hose through the bagging station C, means, in the formof a pair of rollers 25, 2d, for conveying the bagged panty-hose H fromthe bagging station C to the bag closing station D, and means, in theform of a belt conveyor 27, for conveying bagged and turned panty-hose Hfrom the bag closing station D through the labelling station E and fromthe machine at the discharge station F. All of these means, as well asall of the other parts of the machine 20, are mounted on a main frame 28that extends the full length of the machine.

Referring to the folding station A, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and13-16, a horizontal folding platform 29 is mounted on the frame 28 andextends in the lengthwise direction of the machine for laying out ofpanty-hose H thereon in lengthwise alignment with the sequence ofstations. A pair of spaced guide rails 30 are mounted on the platform 29and extend lengthwise thereon at a spacing generally equivalent to orslightly greater than the width of the panty-hose H to be foldedthereat. These guide rails 30 define between them the area in whichpanty-hose are to be laid out and guide the panty-hose for properlengthwise advance along the platform 29 from the folding station A tothe preliminary packaging station B. The platform 29 is formed with alateral extension 31 to the left, as viewed in the direction ofpanty-hose advance, beyond the guide rails 30 for supporting a supply ofpanty-hose in readiness for an operator to lay out in individual pairson the fold- I ing platform area between the guide rails 30.

Mounted on the main frame 28 and projecting above the level of thefolding platform 29 and guide rails 30 at the side of the machine 20opposite the platform extension 31 is a container 32 in which a verticalstack of insert boards I are disposed in parallel relation to the layingout area of the platform 29. Conventional means (not shown) are providedfor biasing the insert board stack upwardly in the container 32 againsta top plate 33 thereon to maintain the uppermost insert board of thestack thereagainst in readiness for transfer to the folding area. Thecontainer 32 is open at the top edge facing the folding area and the topplate 33 has a pair of spaced recesses 34 extending laterally from theopen top edge to expose the uppermost insert board in the container 32for engagement by a pair of suction cups 35 depending from a lengthwiseextending horizontal arm 36 that is connected to a transverse horizontalarm 37 spaced in the direction of panty-hose advance from the insertboard container 32 and reciprocated laterally of the machine 20 from ahorizontal support housing 38 mounted on the platform 29. A conventionalpneumatic piston-cylinder mechanism (not shown) is connected to thetransverse arm 37 to reciprocate the transverse arm 37 and therebyreciprocate the suction cups'35 between the top plate recesses 34 andthefolding area, with the suction cups 35 disposed closely adjacent theuppermost insert board in the container 32 for engagement thereof uponapplication of pneumatic suction through the cups 35. Suction isproduced by a pneumatic pump 39 mounted on the frame 28 below theplatform 29 and driven by an electrical motor 40 mounted on the frame 28adjacent the pump 39. A suction conduit 41 extends from the suction pump39 through a double-acting gate valve42 to the transverse arm 37, whichis interiorly bored to provide suction communication between the conduit41 and the suction cups.35.

The suction cups 35 serve as means for placing insert boards I onpanty-hose H in the folding area by suctionally engaging the upper mostinsert board I in the supply stack and transferring it laterally, uponreciprocation of the transverse arm 37, to a position over a centralportion S of a panty-hose H laid out on the folding area of theplatform. Release of suction in the cups 35 allows the transferredinsert board I to drop onto the panty-hose central portion S forsubsequent folding of the other panty-hose portions thereabout, asdescribed hereinbelow.

The application of suction of the cups 35 during insert board engagementand transfer, and the discontinuance of suction when a board has beenpositioned over the folding area and during return of the suction cups35, is controlled by manipulation of the aforesaid gate valve 42, whichis controlled by a microswitch 43 (FIG. 12) operated by a rotatingtiming cam disc 44 mounted on a main drive shaft 45 that is rotatablymounted on and extends substantially the full length of the main frame28 and is driven by a main electrical drive motor mounted on the frame28 (FIG. 2). Similarly, reciprocation of the suction cups 35 iscontrolled by a microswitch 47 (FIG. 12) operated by a rotating timingcam disc 48 mounted on the main drive shaft 45.

The insert boards I are yieldably held in position on the foldingplatform 29 over the central portions S of. laid out panty-hose H bypneumatic suction acting through the panty-hose on the underside of theboards. This suction is drawn by the aforementioned pump 39 through thedouble acting gate valve 42 from which a suction conduit 49 extends to aplurality of holes 50 in the folding area surface of the foldingplatform 29 under the laid out panty-hose central portions S and placedinsert board I, thereby holding the insert board down in place forfolding of the panty-hose H thereabout. This hold-down suction isapplied by manipulation of the gate valve 42 as soon as suction isreleased at the aforementioned suction cups 35 to drop the insert boardsI, and is maintained during folding and panty-hose advance until thegate valve 42 again shifts to apply pick-up suction to the cups at thesupply stack.

Folding of the panty-hose H about a placed insert board I isaccomplished by a movable horizontal folding plate member 51 and astationary horizontal folding plate member 52, both disposed slightlyabove the folding platform 29 on and extending between the guide rails30. The movable folding plate member 51 is spaced lengthwise from theposition of the panty-hose central portions S in a direction oppositethe direction of panty-hose advance for laying out thereon of one endportion T, such as the toe, foot and ankle portion, of the panty-hose H,with intermediate panty-hose portions R of a length substantially thesame as the length of the central portions S between the end portion Tand the central portions S.

This movable horizontal folding plate member 51 is mounted forlengthwise horizontal reciprocal movement in parallel horizontal grooves53 formed in the facing side surfaces of the guide rails 30, and isreciprocated horizontally through a depending connecting arm 54 attachedto the end of a lengthwise horizontally extending piston rod 55 that isreciprocated by a pneumatic cylinder 56 mounted on the frame 28 underthe folding area of the platform 29. The ends of the cylinder- 56 areconnected by conduits 57 to a source of compressed air that is reversedin application to the ends of the cylinder 56 through a valve 58 that iscontrolled by a microswitch 59 (FIG. 12) operated by a timing cam disc60 on the main drive shaft 45.

The movable horizontal folding plate member 5] is moved in a foldingstroke from its initial position spaced from the central panty-hoseportions S and placed insert board I to a position substantiallycompletely over the central portions S and insert board I, which causesthe intermediate panty-hose portions R to be folded over onto the insertboard 1, thereby partially folding the panty-hose H, with theaforementioned one end T of the panty-hose H remaining on the movablefolding plate member 51, which remains in this position until thepanty-hose H advances from the folding station A, after which themovable folding plate member 51 is moved through a return stroke to itsinitial position for receipt of the next laid out panty-hose H.

The stationary horizontal folding plate member 52 is disposed at aslight lengthwise spacing from the central panty-hose portions S andplaced insert board I in the direction of panty-hose advance for layingout thereon of the other end portion P, such as the panty portion, ofpanty-hose H when the panty-hose are laid out lengthwise at the foldingstation A, which other end portion P remains on the stationary foldingplate member 52 until the panty-hose H advance from the folding stationA.

ln advancing from the folding station A to the preliminary foldingstation B, the panty-hose H are conveyed away from the movable foldingplate member 51, causing the one end portion T of the panty-hose H toslide off the movable folding plate member 51 onto the previously foldedintermediate panty-hose portions R and under the stationary foldingplate member 52, and causing the other end portion P of the panty-hose Hto slide off the stationary folding plate member 52 onto the previouslyfolded one end portion T, thereby completing folding during advance ofthe panty-hose H.

The aforementioned pin and chain conveyor 22, the first section 21 ofwhich conveys the folded panty-hose H from the folding station A to thepreliminary packaging station B, comprises a pair of parallel,lengthwise extending, endless chains 61 that are trained around firstsprockets 62 rotatably mounted on the frame 28 beyond the centralpanty-hose portion S location in the direction opposite panty-hoseadvance and around second sprockets 63 beyond the preliminary packagingstation B in the direction of panty-hose advance. The chains 61 havetheir upper, reaches supported on lengthwise extending bars 64 mountedon the frame 28 directly under the folding platform 29. Each of thechains 61 has a pin 65 mounted thereon and projecting outwardlytherefrom sufficiently to project into the folding area through andslightly above the level of the folded panty-hose H, but below the levelof the folding plate members 51 and 52. To accommodate these pins 65,which are in transverse alignment, the folding platform 29 has a pair oflengthwise slots 66 extending the full length of and vertically abovethe upper reaches of the chains 61.

The chains 61 are driven through a chain and sprocket connection 67 anda gear reducer 68 from the main drive shaft 45 to move the pins 65through one complete traverse of the upper and lower reaches of thechains 61 during each revolution of the main shaft 45, with the pins 65moving from initial positions at the preliminary packaging station endof the upper chain reaches along the lower reaches below the foldingplatform 29, and then along the upper chain reaches in the direction ofpanty-hose advance through the first and second conveyor sections 21, 23to their initial positions at which they stop. As the projecting pins 65move through the first conveyor section 21 they engage the trailing edgeof the partially folded panty-hose H and push the panty-hose in front ofthe pins 65 lengthwise along the folding platform 29 and between theguide bars 30, with the panty-hose folding being completed duringinitial advance as described hereinabove, and the completely foldedpanty-hose continuing to be advanced along the folding platform 29 andbetween the guide rails 30, which extend horizontally to and through thepreliminary packaging station B for supporting and guiding thepanty-hose therethrough and for supporting L-boards L thereat in linewith advancing folded panty-hose H.

At the preliminary packaging station B, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5 and13-17, a vertical stack of generally flat, unfolded, L-boards L isdisposed in a container 69 similar to and aligned with theaforementioned insert board container 32, having a recessed top plate 70similar to that of the top plate 33 of the insert board container 32against which the L-board stack is similarly biased to position theuppermost of the stacked L- boards for engagement by suction cups 71mounted on an extension of the aforementioned bored lengthwise extendinghorizontal arm 36 for operation of the suction cups 71 simultaneouslywith the insert board transferring suction cups 35 to transfer L-boardsL to the platform 29 simultaneously with transfer of insert boards I.Also, the platform 29 is formed with holes 72 similar to the holes 50 atthe folding station A and, connected to the same suction conduit 49 forsimilarly applying suction to the underside of the L-boards L to retainthem yieldably in place during folding of the transverse end flaps Kthereof and to hold them down to assure advancement of folded panty-hoseH thereon. As the panty-hose H are at the folding station A when theL-boards L are placed on the platform 29, the L-boards are placed inadvance of the panty-hose H thereto.

Before the panty-hose H are advanced by the pins 65 of the pin and chainconveyor 22 through the second section 23 thereof onto the L-boards L,the initially flat end flaps K are folded uprightly at the end of the L-boards L that are leading with respect to the direction of panty-hoseadvance. This is accomplished by a folding plate element 73 pivotedtransversely on the frame 28 for normally flat positioning below thepath of the advancing panty-hose H and operated by a pivoted arm 74against which it is biased by a spring 75. The arm 74 is operated by aconnecting linkage 76 that is also pivoted to the frame 28 and includesa vertical cam follower 77 slidable in the frame 28 and riding on a disccam 78 mounted on the main drive shaft 45. Springs 79 connected to thecam follower 77 and the frame 28 bias the cam follower 77 downwardly incam following position, and a stop block 80 of the cam follower 77 stopsdownward movement by abutment against the frame 28.

Operation of the folding plate element linkage 76 by the disc cam 78causes the folding plate element 73 to pivot upwardly and over in adirection opposite to the direction of panty-hose advance to fold theinitially flat end flap K of a placed L-board L upwardly beyond avertical position and then return the folding element 73 out of the pathof advancing panty-hose H, with the L- board end flap K remaining in itsfolded position for advancement of folded panty-hose H thereagainst asthe panty-hose are advanced onto the L-board L by the conveyor pins 65.

To assure advance of the folded panty-hose H onto the L-boards L, a pairof relatively small, laterally spaced, guide members 81 are secured inthe platform 29 in advance of the L-board placement. These guide members81 project upwardly slightly in the path of panty-hose advance and haveinclined panty-hose facing surfaces 82 on which the panty-hose H areguided upwardly to raise the panty-hose H slightly to assure conveyanceonto the L-boards. The guide members 81 also serve to prevent movementof the L-boards during end flap folding thereof, for which purpose theyare located only slightly in advance of the L-board position of theplatform 29.

The pin and chain conveyor 22 operates to convey the folded panty-hose Hcontinuously through the preliminary packaging station B, during whichthe pantyhose are advanced onto the L-board L and against the end flap Kthereof, and to convey the combined pantyhose H and L-board L to thebagging station C.

At the bagging station C, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 18, theadvancing panty-hose H and L-board L pass over a pusher component orblock 83 disposed in the path of advancement and are urged downwardly bya lengthwise extending stationary hold-down bar 84 that causes thepanty-hose H and L-board to drop down past the pusher block 83 onto alengthwise extending horizontal pusher plate 85 within the verticalextent of the pusher block 83, which has a lip 86 projecting slightlyupwardly in the direction of panty-hose advance to retain the panty-hoseH and L-board L in engagement with the pusher block 83 during subsequentmanipulation thereof. The pusher block 83 is initially disposed withinthe lengthwise extent of travel of the conveyor pins 65 so that thefolded panty-hose H and L-board L will be advanced completely past thepusher block 83 and onto the pusher plate 85 at the end of advancementby the conveyor pins 65.

The pusher plate 85 and attached pusher. block 83 are reciprocatedlengthwise in the horizontal direction of panty-hose advance to insertthe folded panty-hose H and L-boards L into the bags M by a pneumaticcylinder 87 mounted on the frame 28 below the folding station A andextending lengthwise of the machine20 for reciprocation of a horizontallengthwise extending piston rod 88 that is connected through aconnecting plate 89 and a pair of lengthwise extending operating rods 90to the pusher plate 85. The cylinder 87.is connected at its ends byconduits 91 to a source of air pressure and is controlled to reciprocatethe pusher plate 85 in an inserting stroke and a return stroke by amicroswitch 92 (FIG. 12) operated by a timing cam disc 93 fixed forrotation on the main drive shaft 45.

The bags M are supported in a vertical stack in a rack 94 below the pathof advance of the panty-hose H, with the bottom 95 of the rack 94 beingbiased upwardly by a pneumatic piston-cylinder mechanism 96 to positionthe uppermost bag of the stack for panty-hose insertion therein. Thebags M have openable ends facing the advancing panty-hose H, and haveend flaps N on their bottom sides extending beyond the open ends 0 undera cover plate 97 over which the pusher plate 85 slides in moving intothe bags M.

The openable ends 0 of the bags M are opened by a bag opening finger 98mounted on a bracket 99 at the outer end of a piston rod 100 that isreciprocated by a horizontal lengthwise extending pneumatic cylinder 101mounted on the frame 28 above and vertically aligned with the path ofpanty-hose advance and in advance of the stack of bags M. Operation ofthe cylinder 101 to reciprocate the bag opening finger 98 is controlledby a microswitch 102 (FIG. 12) that is operated by a timing cam disc 103fixed on the main drive shaft 45. This operation causes the bag openingfinger 98, which is thin and flexible and is biased against the bag endflap N, to advance into the bag end 0. Because the bag opening finger 98extends away from the bags in the supply rack, it engages the top sideof the bag M in which it advances and, thereby, raises the top side foropening of the bag M. In the illustrated disposition, the bag openingfinger 98 is inclined from the attaching bracket 99 in the direction ofpanty-hose advance and toward the bags M, and is curved to a flattenedouter end 104 to facilitate bag opening engagement, and to allow, incombination with the flexibility of the finger, the pusher plate toadvance thereunder.

After the bag opening finger 98 has moved in its bag opening stroke toopen initially the bag M, and before panty-hose insertion operation ofthe pusher plate 85, the bag is engaged by means for gripping oppositeedges of the initially opened bag to hold it stationary while panty-hoseH on an L-board L are inserted thereinto and for ungripping the bag M toallow bagged panty-hose H to advance from the bagging section C. Thisbag gripping and ungripping means includes a' pair of laterally spaced,oppositely movable, gripping arms 105 adjacent opposite edges of thebags M and having facing grooves 106 extending lengthwise thereof forguiding of the side edges of the pusher plate-85 and L- board mountedpanty-hose therethrough into the opened bag M. The movable gripping arms105 are mounted intermediate their ends for limited pivotal movement ina horizontal plane on upstanding pivot posts 107 mounted in lateralalignment on the frame 28 in close proximity to the side edges of thepusher plate 85 in advance of the bag stack. The pivot posts 107 areoppositely pivoted through crank arms 108 that extend oppositely inwardfrom each pivot post 107 and are interconnected by a laterally extendingconnector bar 109 attached to the end of a lengthwise extending pistonrod 110, which is operated by a horizontal, lengthwise extending,pneumatic cylinder mounted on the frame 28 under the preliminarypackaging station B. Movement of the piston rod 110 outwardly of thecylinder causes the crank arms 108 to pivot the grooved gripping arms105 to spread them from an initial position at which they convergetoward their bag adjacent ends 112 into a generally paralleldisposition. In spreading, the gripping arm ends 112 move in oppositehorizontal arcs into the open end 0 of the bag M, which has beenpreviously opened by the bag opening finger 98, and engage the oppositeside edges of the bag M just inwardly of the open bag end 0, therebyspreading the bag in open condition for guidance of the pusher plate 85through the gripping arm grooves 106 into the open bag M. Movement ofthe movable gripping arms 105 is limited by a pair of upstandingstationary gripping arms 113 mounted on the frame 28 in lateralalignment closely adjacent, exteriorly, the side edges of the bag Madjacent the open bag end 0 and in the path of movement of the movablegripping arms 105 adjacent the ends 112 thereof. The pneumatic forceapplied by the cylinder 111 causes the movable gripping arms 105 to bepressed against the stationary gripping arms 113 to grip the bag edgestherebetween to hold the bag M stationary during panty-hose insertion,which gripping is enhanced to assure bag holding by pads 114 ofresilient rubber-like material secured to the opposing surfaces of thestationary gripping arms 113 for compression and friction gripping ofthe bags.

The above-described gripping action is induced by applying air pressureto the end 115 of the cylinder 1 1 1 opposite the piston rod end 116thereof through a conduit 117 from a source of air pressure, with thisapplication of air pressure being controlled by a microswitch 118 (FIG.12) operated by a timing cam disc 119 mounted on the main drive shaft 45for rotation therewith. The conduit 117 has a valve 120 connectedtherein and operated by a cam follower switch 121 to open the conduit117 to the atmosphere to relieve air pressure in the cylinder 111,thereby relieving the gripping pressure of the movable gripping arms 105against the stationary gripping arms 113 and allowing slight return ofthe movable gripping arms 105, thereby ungripping the bag M and allowingit to be advanced upon continued advance of the pusher plate 85 afterfull insertion into the bag M. The cam follower switch 121 is locatednear the outward position of the aforementioned connecting plate 89 onthe pusher plate operating piston rod 88 for operating engagement by alengthwise extending finger 112 on the connecting plate 89, which finger122 engages and operates the cam follower switch 121 to effectungripping of the bags during the last portion of the insertion strokeof the pusher plate 85 to allow advance of the bagged panty-hose H intothe nip of the afore-mentioned rollers 25, 26 at the bag closing stationD. At the end of this pusher plate stroke the connecting plate 89engages a stop switch 123 mounted on the frame 28 that operates to stopthe operation of the machine 20 until the machine is recycled byactuation of a manual main starting switch 124 at the folding station Aby the operator after the next panty-hose H is laid out for folding.Thus, the bagged panty-hose H remains at the rollers 25, 26 until themachine is recycled, and the bag closing, labelling and dischargingoperations on the previously bagged pantyhose are carried out while thenext panty-hose H is being folded, preliminarily packaged and bagged.

Upon initiation of recycling, the movable gripping arms 105 are returnedto their initial position over the end flap N of the next bag Moutwardly of the open end thereof in readiness for a repeat of thebagging cycle by introduction of air pressure into the piston rod end116 of the cylinder 111 through a conduit 125 under the control ofamicroswitch 126 (FIG. 12) operated by a timing cam disc 127 mounted onthe main drive shaft 45 for rotation therewith.

Referring now to the bag closing station D, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 8, 9,10, 19 and 20, the bagged panty-hose H are conveyed thereto lengthwiseby the pusher plate 85, which advances slightly beyond the nip of thetwo vertically aligned, oppositely rotating, transverse rollera 25, 26to assure roller nip engagement of the bagged panty-hose H, and isformed with a transverse recess 128 to accommodate the rolls 25, 26,which are shorter in lateral extent then the pusher plate 85. Therollers are mounted on transverse shafts 129 journalled for rotation onthe main frame 28 and driven through a chain and sprocket connection 130by the main drive shaft 45 for continuous bagged panty-hose advancingduring each operating cycle of the machine 20. As the machine is stoppedat the time the bagged panty-hose enter the nip of the rollers 25, 26,the rollers will hold the bagged panty-hose H until the machine 20 isrecycled and will then advance the bagged panty-hose H into the bagclosing station D.

The rollers 25, 26 convey the bagged panty-hose H lengthwise over atransversely extending end flap folding plate 131 located immediatelybeyond the lower roller 26 and extending at a downward inclination frombelow the level of the nip of the rollers 25, 26 to a transverse hingepivot connection 132 at the upper edge of the surface 133 of a bagsupporting member or platform 134. This surface 133 is inclineddownwardly in the direction of bagged panty-hose advance from theaforementioned hinge pivot connection 132 for sliding thereon of thebagged panty-hose H from the nip of the rollers 25, 26 over a bagturning plate 135 disposed on the inclined surface 133 in advance ofatransverse stop 136 located at the downward end of the bag turning plate135 on the inclined surface 133 and against which the sliding baggedpanty-hose H is stopped to assure full seating of the panty-hose H inthe bag M and to position the unfolded end flap N of the bag M properlyover the end flap folding plate 131 for closing thereof.

Means are provided for pivoting the end flap folding plate 131 in thedirection of bagged panty-hose advance to fold the end flap N of the bagM over the open bag end 0 and against the upper side of the bag M, wherethe end flap N is held by the end flap folding plate 131 during sealing.This means comprises a transverse shaft 137 oscillatably mounted on themain frame 28 behind the aforementioned hinge pivot connection 132 andhaving an operating arm 138 fixed thereon and extending for pushingcontact during the flap folding stroke against the end flap foldingplate 131, to which it is also connected by a spring 139 for pulling theplate back to its initial position during the return stroke. Thetransverse shaft 137 is oscillated to manipulate the end flap foldingplate 131 by a crank arm 140 fixed to the shaft 137 and connected at itsextending end to a vertical cam follower 141 that is vertically slidablymounted at 142 on the main frame 28 with its lower end in followingengagement with a cam disc 143 mounted on the main drive shaft 45 forrotation therewith. The configuration of the cam disc 143 is such thatthe end flap folding plate 131 is retained in flap folding positionuntil the bag has been sealed and then is returned to its initialposition to allow the next bagged panty-hose to advance thereover. Toallow for sealing, the end flap folding plate 131 is formed with aplurality of recesses 144 extending inwardly from its outer edge toexpose the end flap N therethrough for operation of sealing means thatis movable downwardly onto the folded end flap N, which serves as aclosure flap for the sealed bag M.

The sealing means comprises a conventional sealing bar 145 of theheat-sealing type connected through leads 146 to a source of electricityfor developing sufficient heat at a series of projecting sealing points147 to heat-seal the end flaps M to the bags M, for which purpose thebags M aremade of thin heat-sealable material, such as polyethylene. Thesealing bar 145 is mounted transversely above a sealing bed 148 in theaforementioned inclined surface 133 at the flap folding position of theend flap folding plate 131. A pair of laterally spaced, lengthwiseextending arms 149 support the sealing bar 145 at its ends. Thesesupport arms 149 are pivoted to the main frame 28 and are operated by avertically extending operating arm 150 connected at its upper end to oneof the support arms 149 and at its lower end to a cross arm 151 that hasone end pivoted to the main frame 28 and its other end guided in avertical slot 152 on the frame, with a spring 153 connected to the crossarm 151 and to the frame 28 therebelow to bias the cross arm 151 andconnected elements downwardly for following engagement of a cam follower154 on the cross arm 151 with a cam disc 155 that is mounted on the maindrive shaft 45 for rotation therewith. As the cam disc 155 rotates, itcauses the sealing bar 145 to move downwardly for contact of the foldedend flap N of a bag M by the sealing points 147, which are aligned withthe flap folding plate recesses 144 for this purpose. The pressure ofthe sealing points 147 against the bag M is controlled to obtain optimumsealing by adjusting screws 156 that project from the support arms 149for engagement with the aforementioned inclined surface 133 to limitdownward sealing bar movement, with the screws 156 being adjustabletoward and away from the support arms 149 to vary the stopped positionof the sealing bar 145.

After a bag M is sealed, it is turned over in the direction ofpanty-hose advance by means comprising the aforementioned turning plate135, which is fixed at its lower end to a transverse shaft 157journalled in the main frame 28 and connected to gearing 158 that isoscillated by a crank arm 159. The outer end of the crank arm 159 isconnected. to the upper end of a vertical operating arm 160 that has itslower end connected to a cross arm 161, which is pivoted at one end tothe frame 28 and has its other end extending through a slot 162 in theframe 28. The cross arm 161 and connected elements are biased downwardlyby a spring 163 connected between the cross arm 161 and frame 28 tomaintain a cam follower 164 on the cross arm 161 in following engagementwith a cam disc 165 that is mounted on the main drive shaft 45 forrotation therewith.

With this turning arrangement, the turning plate 135, with baggedpanty-hose H supported thereon against the stop 136, is pivoted in thedirection of panty-hose advance beyond a vertical disposition sufficientto cause the bagged panty-hose H to fall over and from the turning plate135 onto the aforementioned belt conveyor 27 and between retaining walls167 extending upwardly from the frame 28 along the length of the beltconveyor 27. The belt conveyor is driven through a conventional driveconnection (not shown) by the main drive shaft 45.

The belt conveyor 27 conveys the bagged panty-hose H in turned overdisposition continuously through the labelling section E, at which aconventional labelling machine 168 applies labels individually to thebags M, and from which the belt conveyor 27 conveys the baggedpanty-hose H to the discharge station F, where the panty-hose H fallfrom the belt conveyor 27 into containers or onto further conveyingmeans.

The various components of the machine 20, which have been described indetail hereinabove, function in combination to package panty-hose,stockings or similar elongated flaccid articles in the following manner.

The machine 20 is prepared for operation by connection to an electricalpower source and a pneumatic power source. The main on-off switch 169 atthe control panel 170 is then turned on by an operator standing at thefolding station A. At this point none of the components are operating,except the suction pump 39 and motor 40, but are in condition forsequential operation when the operator subsequently pushes the mainstarting switch 124.

The operator places a pair of panty-hose H from the supply on thefolding platform extension 31 at the folding station A onto the foldingarea of the platform 29 between the guide rails 30, and in doing soextends the panty-hose H lengthwise with their central portions S on theplatform 29 in line with the supply of insert boards 1, their pantyportions P on the stationary folding plate member 52, their toe, footand ankle portion T on the retracted movable folding plate member 51,and intermediate portions R extending between the central portions S andthe movable folding plate member 52 (FIG. 13).

The operator then presses the main starting switch 124 to startautomatic operation of the machine 20 and reaches to the supply topick-up the next pair of pantyhose H for positioning after the firstpair is automatically advanced from the folding station A. Pressing ofthe starting switch 124 energizes the main drive motor 46 to rotate themain drive shaft 45 through one revolu tion, causing the various controlcams to actuate the various machine operations through one completecycle.

The first operation performed by the machine 20 is the simultaneoustransfer of insert boards I and L- boards L (FIG. 14) from the supplystacks onto the platform 29 by the suction cups 35 and 71, with theinsert board I being placed on the laid out panty-hose central portionsS and the L-boards L being placed with their unfolded end flaps K overthe end flap folding plate 73. As soon as the suction cups 35, 71release the boards, suction is applied through the holes 50 and 72 tohold the insert board I in place for panty-hose folding thereon and theL-board L for end flap folding. Next, the movable folding plate member51 is advanced to fold the intermediate panty-hose portion R onto theL-board L and the end fl'ap folding plate element 73 is oscillated tofold the L-board end flap K uprightly and return (FIG. 15). By this timethe pin and chain conveyor 22 has advanced the pins to the foldingstation A behind the panty-hose H with the continuous advance of thepins 65 engaging the panty-hose H and advancing it from the foldingstation A, which completes folding by causing the toe, foot and ankleportion T and the panty portion P to slide from the folding platemembers 51, 52 onto the folded intermediate portion I (FIG. 16). As thepins 65 continue along the platform 29, they advance the now foldedpantyhose H to the preliminary packaging station B, at which the pinsadvance the panty-hose H onto the previously placed L-board L andagainst the now upright end flap K thereof (FIG. 17), with continuingadvance of the pins 65 advancing both the folded panty-hose H and L-board Lfrom the preliminary packaging station B over the pusher block 83and onto the pusher plate 85. By this time the bag opening finger 98 hasextended to open the end 0 of a bag M and the movable gripping arms 105have been moved to grip the bag edges against the stationary grippingarms 113. Immediately upon receipt of an L-board L and panty-hose H, thepusher plate advances to insert the L-board L and panty-hose H into thenow open bag M (FIG. 18), with the gripping arms 105, 113 holding thebag M stationary during insertion and then releasing the bag M to allowthe pusher plate 85 to advance the now bagged panty-hose H into the nipof the rollers 25, 26. At this point, the main drive shaft 45 hascompleted one revolution, stopping the operation of the machine 20.

When the operator places the next panty-hose H for folding and againpresses the main starting switch 124, the next panty-hose H is processedin the manner just described while the first panty-hose H completes itsadvance through the machine by first being advanced by the rollers 25,26 into the bag closing station D at which it slides down the inclinedsurface 133 against the stop 136, which causes the panty-hose H to seatfully in the bag M and positions the bag M with its end flap K over theendflap folding plate 131, which is then oscillated to fold the end flapK and hold it on the bag M while the sealing bar 145 moves down toheat-seal the end flap K to the bag M (FIG. 19). Upon return of the endflap folding plate 131 and sealing bar 145, the bag turning plate 135 isoscillated to turn the bagged panty-hose H over onto the belt conveyor27 (FIG. 20), which conveys it continuously through the labellingstation E for attachment of a label by the labelling machine 168 (FIG.1), and then continues to convey it to the discharge station F (FIG. 2)from which the belt conveyor 27 discharges a completely folded, bagged,sealed, and labelled panty-hose package.

The foregoing detailed description has been provided for the purpose ofdisclosing a preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of anexample, but it is not intended that the scope of the present inventionbe limited to the detailed disclosure or otherwise, except as defined inthe appended claims and equivalents thereof. Thus, variousmodifications, omissions and rearrangements could be made and variousfeatures could be incorporated in other machines or practiced separatelywithin the purview of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,comprising laying out the articles at a folding station, folding thearticles lengthwise at said folding station, advancing the foldedarticles in a continuous lengthwise direction from said folding stationthrough a preliminary packaging station, a bagging station, and a bagclosing station, advancing the folded articles lengthwise onto packagecomponents as the folded articles advance lengthwise through saidpreliminary packaging station, inserting the preliminarily packagedarticles lengthwise into bags as the articles advance lengthwise throughsaid bagging station, closing the bags containing articles at said bagclosing station, and removing the bagged articles from said bag closingstation.

2. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles,

such as hosiery, according to claim 1 and characterized further in thatsaid folding comprises partially folding the articles prior to advancingthe articles and completing folding during said advancing of thearticles from said folding station.

3. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said advancingthe folded articles onto package components comprises placing generallyflat package components in line with the advancing folded articlesbefore the articles advance to said preliminary packaging station, andadvancing the folded articles onto the package components.

4. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 3 and characterized further by raising the foldedarticles as the articles advance to the package components to assureadvance of the folded articles onto the package components.

5. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 3 and characterized further in that the packagecomponents have upstanding transverse end flaps at the ends thereof thatare leading with respect to the direction of article advance, and saidadvancing of the folded articles onto the package components advance thearticles against the upstanding end flaps thereof.

6. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 5 and characterized further by placing the generallyflat package components at said preliminary packaging station with theirend flaps flat and folding the end flaps generally upright prior toadvance of the folded articles against the flaps.

7. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 1 and characterized further by opening the advancingarticle facing ends of bags at said bagging station before the articlesadvance thereto, gripping opposite edges of the opened bags to hold thebags stationary while the articles are being inserted thereinto, andungripping the bags to allow bagged articles to advance.

8. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 1 and characterized further by advancing the baggedarticles against a transverse stop at said bag closing station to seatthe ar ticles fully in the bags and to position the bags properly forclosing.

9. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 8 and characterized further in that the bags are madeof heat-scalable material and have trailing open ends with closure flapsextending therefrom, and said bag closing comprises folding the closureflaps over the open ends and heat sealing the folded closure flaps tothe bags.

10. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 8 and characterized further by sliding the baggedarticles down an incline as the bagged articles advance to said stop atsaid bag closing station prior to said bag closing.

1 l. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 1 and characterized further by turning the baggedarticles over in the direction of advance after closing of the bags.

12. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 11 and characterized further in that said turning ofbagged articles comprises advancing the bagged articles onto a turningplate, and oscillating said turning plate in the direction of thearticle advance to turn the bagged articles and to return said turningplate to article receiving position.

13. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 12 and characterized further by advancing baggedarticles onto said turning plate and against a stop to seat the articlesfully in the bags and to position the bags properly for closing, saidstop positioning the leading end of the bagged articles for bag turningupon oscillation of said turning plate.

14. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, comprising a folding station, a preliminary packaging station,a bagging station, and a bag closing station, said stations beingarranged in an aligned lengthwise sequence, a platform at said foldingstation for laying out articles thereon in lengthwise alignment withsaid station sequence and at which the articles are folded lengthwise,means for conveying folded articles in a lengthwise direction from saidfolding station to said preliminary packaging station, means fordisposing folded articles lengthwise on package components at saidpreliminary packaging station, means for conveying preliminarilypackaged articles in said lengthwise direction from said preliminarypackaging station to said bagging station, means for inserting thepreliminarily packaged articles lengthwise into bags at said baggingstation, means for conveying bagged articles in said lengthwisedirection from said bagging station to said bag closing station, andmeans for closing bags containing articles at said bag closing station.

15. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 14 and characterized further by means atsaid folding station for partially folding article s prior to conveyanceof articles from said folding station and for completing folding as thearticles are conveyed from said folding station.

16. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 14 and characterized further in that saidmeans for disposing folded articles lengthwise on package componentsincludes means for placing generally flat package components in linewith the articles before the articles are conveyed to said preliminarypackaging station.

17. An apparatus or packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 16 and characterized further in that saidmeans for disposing folded articles lengthwise on package componentsincludes means for raising the articles as they are conveyed to saidpreliminary packaging station to assure advance of articles onto thepackage components.

18. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 17 and characterized further in that saidarticle raising means comprises a guide member projecting upwardly inthe path of the articles adjacent and in advance of the packagecomponents and having an inclined surface on which the articles areguided upwardly into position for conveyance onto the packagecomponents.

19. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 16 and characterized further in that saidmeans for disposing folded articles lengthwise on package componentsincludes means for yieldably retaining the package components inposition for conveyance thereonto of folded articles, with the generallyflat package components being positioned by said package componentdisposing means with upstanding transverse end flaps at the ends thereofthat are leading with respect to the direction of article advance foradvance of articles on the package components against the end flapsthereof.

20. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 19 and characterized further in that saidyieldably retaining means comprises suction means acting on theunderside of disposed package components to resist lengthwise movementthereof and to hold the package components down for movement of foldedarticles thereonto.

21. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 16 and characterized further by means atsaid preliminary packaging station for folding transverse end flaps ofthe package components upwardly at the ends thereof that are leadingwith respect to the direction of article advance for advance of articleson the package components against the end flaps thereof.

22. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 21 and characterized further in that saidend flap folding means comprises a folding element disposed below thepackage component end flaps for pivoting against the end flaps, andmeans for pivoting said folding element upwardly to fold the end flapsand for retaining said folding element to allow the package componentswith articles thereon to pass over said folding element as thepreliminarily packaged articles are conveyed from said preliminarypackaging station.

23. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 21 and characterized further in that saidmeans for disposing folded articles lengthwise on packaging componentsincludes a guide member projecting upwardly in the path of the articlesadjacent and in advance of the package components to prevent movement ofthe package components during end flap folding thereof and having aninclined surface on which articles are .guided upwardly into positionfor conveyance onto the package components.

24. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 14 and characterized further in that saidmeans for inserting preliminarily packaged articles lengthwise into bagscomprises means for opening the advancing article facing ends of bagsbefore the articles are conveyed to said bagging station, meansforgripping opposite edges of the open bags to hold the bags stationarywhile articles are inserted thereinto as the articles advance and forungripping the bags to allow bagged articles to advance.

25. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 14 and characterized further by a transversestop at said bag closing station in the path of advancing bags forstopping the bags and thereby seating the articles fully in the bags andpositioning the bags properly for closing. 26. An apparatus forpackaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according toclaim 25 and characterized further in that said means for closing bagsincludes a flap folding plate in the path of advancing bags and overwhich the bags are conveyed into bag closing position, means forpivoting said flap folding plate to fold closure flaps of the bags overthe bags, and sealing means movable downwardly onto the folded closureflaps to seal the flaps to the bags while the flaps are held in foldedposition by said folding plate.

27. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 25 and characterized further by a packagesupporting member at said bag closing station having a surface inclineddownwardly in the direction of article advance for sliding thereon ofbagged articles, said transverse stop being located on said inclinedsurface for stopping bagged articles thereon.

28. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 27 and characterized further by a bagturning plate disposed on said inclined surface in advance of said stopfor receipt of bagged articles thereon, and means for oscillating saidturning plate in the direction of article advance to ticles, such ashosiery, according to claim 29 and characterized further in that saidturning means comprises a turning plate disposed for receipt of baggedarticles thereon, and means for oscillating said turning plate in thedirection of article advance to turn over bagged articles after bagclosing and to return said turning plate to article receiving position.

1. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,comprising laying out the articles at a folding station, folding thearticles lengthwise at said folding station, advancing the foldedarticles in a continuous lengthwise direction from said folding stationthrough a preliminary packaging station, a bagging station, and a bagclosing station, advancing the folded articles lengthwise onto packagecomponents as the folded articles advance lengthwise through saidpreliminary packaging station, inserting the preliminarily packagedarticles lengthwise into bags as the articles advance lengthwise throughsaid bagging station, closing the bags containing articles at said bagclosing station, and removing the bagged articles from said bag closingstation.
 2. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 1 and characterized further in that saidfolding comprises partially folding the articles prior to advancing thearticles and completing folding during said advancing of the articlesfrom said folding station.
 3. A method of packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 1 and characterizedfurther in that said advancing the folded articles onto packagecomponents comprises placing generally flat package components in linewith the advancing folded articles before the articles advance to saidpreliminary packaging station, and advancing the folded articles ontothe package components.
 4. A method of packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 3 and characterizedfurther by raising the folded articles as the articles advance to thepackage components to assure advance of the folded articles onto thepackage components.
 5. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles,such as hosiery, according to claim 3 and characterized further in thatthe package components have upstanding transverse end flaps at the endsthereof that are leading with respect to the direction of articleadvance, and said advancing of the folded articles onto the packagecomponents advance the articles against the upstanding end flapsthereof.
 6. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 5 and characterized further by placing thegenerally flat package components at said preliminary packaging stationwith their end flaps flat and folding the end flaps generally uprightprior to advance of the folded articles against the flaps.
 7. A methodof packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according toclaim 1 and characterized further by opening the advancing articlefacing ends of bags at said bagging station before the articles advancethereto, gripping opposite edges of the opened bags to hold the bagsstationary while the articles are being inserted thereinto, andungripping the bags to allow bagged articles to advance.
 8. A method ofpackaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according toclaim 1 and characterized further by advancing the bagged articlesagainst a transverse stop at said bag closing station to seat thearticles fully in the bags and to position the bags properly forclosing.
 9. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 8 and characterized further in that the bagsare made of heat-sealable material and have trailing open ends withclosure flaps extending therefrom, and said bag closing comprisesfolding the closure flaps over the open ends and heat sealing the foldedclosure flaps to the bags.
 10. A method of packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 8 and characterizedfurther by sliding the bagged articles down an incline as the baggedarticles advance to said stop at said bag closing station prior to saidbag closing.
 11. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, suchas hosiery, according to claim 1 and characterized further by turningthe bagged articles over in the direction of advance after closing ofthe bags.
 12. A method of packaging elongated flaccid articles, such ashosiery, according to claim 11 and characterized further in that saidturning of bagged articles comprises advancing the bagged articles ontoa turning plate, and oscillating said turning plate in the direction ofthe article advance to turn the bagged articles and to return saidturning plate to article receiving position.
 13. A method of packagingelongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 12 andcharacterized further by advancing bagged articles onto said turningplate and against a stop to seat the articles fully in the bags and toposition the bags properly for closing, said stop positioning theleading end of the bagged articles for bag turning upon oscillation ofsaid turning plate.
 14. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, comprising a folding station, a preliminarypackaging station, a bagging station, and a bag closing station, saidstations being arranged in an aligned lengthwise sequence, a platform atsaid folding station for laying out articles thereon in lengthwisealignment with said station sequence and at which the articles arefolded lengthwise, means for conveying folded articles in a lengthwisedirection from said folding station to said preliminary packagingstation, means for disposing folded articles lengthwise on packagecomponents at said preliminary packaging station, means for conveyingpreliminarily packaged articles in said lengthwise direction from saidpreliminary packaging station to said bagging station, means forinserting the preliminarily packaged articles lengthwise into bags atsaid bagging station, means for conveying bagged articles in saidlengthwise direction from said bagging station to said bag closingstation, and means for closing bags containing articles at said bagclosing station.
 15. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 14 and characterizedfurther by means at said folding station for partially folding articlesprior to conveyance of articles from said folding station and forcompleting folding as the articles are conveyed from said foldingstation.
 16. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, suchas hosiery, according to claim 14 and characterized further in that saidmeans for disposing folded articles lengthwise on package componentsincludes means for placing generally flat package components in linewith the articles before the articles are conveyed to said preliminarypackaging station.
 17. An apparatus or packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 16 and characterizedfurther in that said means for disposing folded articles lengthwise onpackage components includes means for raising the articles as they areconveyed to said preliminary packaging station to assure advance ofarticles onto the package components.
 18. An apparatus for packagingelongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 17 andcharacterized further in that said article raising means comprises aguide member projecting upwardly in the path of the articles adjacentand in advance of the package components and having an inclined surfaceon which the articles are guided upwardly into position for conveyanceonto the package components.
 19. An apparatus for packaging elongatedflaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 16 andcharacterized further in that said means for disposing folded articleslengthwise on package components includes means for yieldably retainingthe package components in position for conveyance thereonto of foldedarticles, with the generally flat package components being positioned bysaid package component disposing means with upstanding transverse endflaps at the ends thereof that are leading with respect to the directionof article advance for advance of articles on the package componentsagainst the end flaps thereof.
 20. An apparatus for packaging elongatedflaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 19 andcharacterized further in that said yieldably retaining means comprisessuction means acting on the underside of disposed package components toresist lengthwise movement thereof and to hold the package componentsdown for movement of folded articles thereonto.
 21. An apparatus forpackaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according toclaim 16 and characterized further by means at said preliminarypackaging station for folding transverse end flaps of the packagecomponents upwardly at the ends thereof that are leading with respect tothe direction of article advance for advance of articles on the packagecomponents against the end flaps thereof.
 22. An apparatus for packagingelongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 21 andcharacterized further in that said end flap folding means comprises afolding element disposed below the package component end flaps forpivoting against the end flaps, and means for pivoting said foldingelement upwardly to fold the end flaps and for retaining said foldingelement to allow the package components with articles thereon to passover said folding element as the preliminarily packaged articles areconveyed from said preliminary packaging station.
 23. An apparatus forpackaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according toclaim 21 and characterized further in that said means for disposingfolded articles lengthwise on packaging components includes a guidemember projecting upwardly in the path of the articles adjacent and inadvance of the package components to prevent movement of the packagecomponents during end flap folding thereof and having an inclinedsurface on which articles are guided upwardly into position forconveyance onto the package components.
 24. An apparatus for packagingelongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 14 andcharacterized further in that said means for inserting preliminarilypackaged articles lengthwise into bags comprises means for opening theadvancing article facing ends of bags before the articles are conveyedto said bagging station, means for gripping opposite edges of the openbags to hold the bags stationary while articles are inserted thereintoas the articles advance and for ungripping the bags to allow baggedarticles to advance.
 25. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 14 and characterizedfurther by a transverse stop at said bag closing station in the path ofadvancing bags for stopping the bags and thereby seating the articlesfully in the bags and positioning the bags properly for closing.
 26. Anapparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery,according to claim 25 and characterized further in that said means forclosing bags includes a flap folding plate in the path of advancing bagsand over which the bags are conveyed into bag closing position, meansfor pivoting said flap folding plate to fold closure flaps of the bagsover the bags, and sealing means movable downwardly onto the foldedclosure flaps to seal the flaps to the bags while the flaps are held infolded position by said folding plate.
 27. AN apparatus for packagingelongated flaccid articles, such as hosiery, according to claim 25 andcharacterized further by a package supporting member at said bag closingstation having a surface inclined downwardly in the direction of articleadvance for sliding thereon of bagged articles, said transverse stopbeing located on said inclined surface for stopping bagged articlesthereon.
 28. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, suchas hosiery, according to claim 27 and characterized further by a bagturning plate disposed on said inclined surface in advance of said stopfor receipt of bagged articles thereon, and means for oscillating saidturning plate in the direction of article advance to turn over baggedarticles after bag closing and to return said turning plate to articlereceiving position.
 29. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccidarticles, such as hosiery, according to claim 14 and characterizedfurther by means at said bag closing station for turning bagged articlesover in the direction of article advance after the bags have beenclosed.
 30. An apparatus for packaging elongated flaccid articles, suchas hosiery, according to claim 29 and characterized further in that saidturning means comprises a turning plate disposed for receipt of baggedarticles thereon, and means for oscillating said turning plate in thedirection of article advance to turn over bagged articles after bagclosing and to return said turning plate to article receiving position.